Baby Safety Answers!

 

Q: My son eats everything in sight – how do I protect him?

A: An overdose of candy-flavored aspirin or vitamins is a leading cause of poisoning of young children.

• Keep vitamins and medicine containers off night tables, kitchen counters and table.
• Very alkaline substances, like toilet bowel cleaners, cause substantial chemical burns to the mouth and esophagus when swallowed, even in small amounts. Keep these products out of the reach of your child.
• Put child-resistant locks on under-the-sink cabinets. Or put harmful products in locked containers.
• If you leave the room while using a product that could harm your child, even for an instant, cap and put it away or take it with you. Use safety latches or locks on drawers and cabinets when you keep dangerous items.
• Keep drinks with alcohol out of the child's reach.
• Keep trash and recycling in a place your child can't get into. If you even suspect a child has swallowed or inhaled any harmful product.

If you suspect a child has swallowed or inhaled any harmful product, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 OR 9-1-1 immediately. Report what the child has swallowed. Take the container to the phone so you can answer any questions about the contents. If a child is unconscious or in convulsions, follow the steps you are told to take until help arrives.